Continuous clarifying apparatus



F. J. CASABLANCA ET AL CONTINUOUS CLARIFYING APPARATUS June 16, 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1923 INVENTORJ I A TTORNEYS F. J.CASABLANCA ET AL June 16, I925.

CONTINUOUS CLARIFYI N G APPARATUS FiIed Nov. 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IENTORS A M BY J A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 16, 1925.

, UNITED STATES FRANK J. CASABLAN'CA AND MANUEL F. GALIDO, OF CARDENAS,CUBA, ASSIGNOBS TO CLARIFIER- AND SETTLER 00., OF HABANA, CUBA, A.CORPORA- THE CONTINUOUS TION OF (LUIBA.

PATENT oFFics;

CONTINUOUS CL'ARIFYING APPARATUS.

Apptication filed November 27, 1923. Serial No. 677,343.

To (/17 10110211 it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK J. Casannmca, a citizen of the United Statesof itmerica, and MANUEL F. Game, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, bothresidents of. Cardenas. Cuba, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Continuous Clari tying Appaii'atus, of which thefollowing is a complete specification.

"his invention refers to the clarification or purification of liquids,and specially to the defecation of the sugar cane raw juices, to obtainthe separation and elimination of the impurities held in suspension inthem: its object being to provide an apparatus of continuous action toaccomplish this purpose in such a way, that, due to its lower density,the clear liquid will flow out above and the settled impurities below;obtaining this continuous separation of the impurities by causing theliquid to change its direction and velocity of flow several successivetimes, referably reducing the velocity on its upward motion (that is,against the action of gravity) and increasing the velocity on itsdownward motion (or with the action of gravity); and having thisapparatus ,dccidcd advantages over the now known clariliers ordel'tu'atol'sduc to its simplicity of construction and action andeconomy eti'ected by its use.

The invention is described with reference to the tigures of the annexeddrawings, of which:

Fig. tion of a clarifying apparatus ing to this invention; an

Fig. 2 is a plan top view of the same.

This apparatus consists of a tank or outside body 1,,in the shape of twotruncated inverted cones joined together; the lower cone (forming thebottom) being provided with brackets 2 for support on eams 3 of asuitable platform or staging. The upper cone of this tank 1, is coveredwith a. flat plate 4, riveted to its upper border and having a largecentral opening, through which it is rigidly joined to a'circular body5. whose bottom slopes down towards one 'side, and having connected toits lowest pointan inclined tube 6, which projects out through wall oftank 1, this body 5 thus forming a trough around a funnel shaped builtaccordreceptacle 7 whose upper edge is higher 1 is a vertical diametralcross-sec than the bottom of trough Inside this -tunnel or receptacle 7the tube marked 8 discharges the turbid liquid to be claritied, whichliquid may be the sugar cane juices already limed and heated to near theboiling point. The tunnel T is provided with a long d'owntake tube 7which reaches down and then branches into two opposite sloping dischargetubes 9.

Forming an intermediate body between outer tank 1 and downtake 7 of,funnel 7 is located a cylindrical tank with conical bottom 1 0. so thatthe ends of inclined tubes 9 are quite close to its shell. The conicalbottom of this tank 10 is concentric with conical bottom of outer tank1, both connecting with a two-passage piece ll, as it will be explainedlater.

Around the cylindri -a.l bo dy of tank 10, and at ashort distance fromit, is arranged a cylindrical bell l2, closed on its upper end by cover13. which allows the passage of and is riveted to downt-ake tube 7.through flange 14-. and from which tank It) is also supported orsuspended by means of several angle plates 15.

- The special piece 11 has two passages, the

outside one lti-connecting to the mouth of conical bottom of outer tankhand the other passage l6, connecting to the mouth of the conical bottomof inside tank 10; both passages 16 and 16 being provided with valves 17and 17 and joining to a Y, 19, which connects through pipe 19 to a magmapump 20.

In the upper part and inside tank 1, there is an arrangement consistingof a bent tube 21, placed horizontal and more or less level with borderof tunnel 7, provided with several intakes 22, into which the clearjuice overflows and is let out of the apparatus; tube 21 being connectedthrough a short nipple/23, with another tube 24, outside of tank 1, andprovided with controlling valve 25.

This apparatus or deteeator works as follows: the turbid juice,previously limed and heated to almost 100 C. is discharged through thepipe 8 into the center of funnel ill) 7. The foam formed by the liquidfalling and 16 of special piece juice descends through tube 7',discharging through the inclined tubes 9 into the inner tank 10, untilthis is filled and then overflows over its upper edge and descendingthrough the circular space 26, (formed by tank 10 and bell 12) fallsinto the outer tank 1 and filling this, the clear juice alreadyclarified overflows into inlets 22 and out through valve 25.

The mud formed by the precipitated impurities on the conical bottom oftanks 1 and 10, falls out slowly through the spaces 16 11, theirdischarge being controlled by the valves 17 and 17, and then fallingthrough Y 18 and pipe 19 to magma pump 20, is sent to the mud tank orother place, according to the system used by the factory.

'The defecator when working is always completely full of liquid. Whenthis liquid falls into tanks 10 and 1, the heavier sub stances( formingthe mud) fall to the bottom. This efl'ect is assured and increased intwo ways: first: by the changes of direction which the liquid is forcedto take; that is, after falling into tank 10 through tubes 9, it flowsupwards until the edge is reached, then moves downwards until reachingthe lower edge of bell 12 it flows upwards again through tank 1; second:by the changes of velocity which the liquid suffers during its coursethrough the apparatus, due to the difference in the area of the passesleading up and those leading down; the downward passes like tube 7 andspace 26, having an area a great deal smaller than the upward passes,such as tanks 10 and 1.

Due to the very low velocity of the liquid inthe relatively large sizedtanks 1 and 10, plenty of time is given to the heavy particles to fallto the bottom, thus clarifying the liquid.

We wish to observe that the shape and construction of this apparatus maybe changed within certain limits; as for instance, the number of bodiesused to change the velocity and direction of the liquid may be changed,without in any way afi'ecting the essential character or spirit of thisinvention, which is as set forth in the appended claim.

What we claim is An apparatus for continuous clarification liquidscomprising a large diameter outer having a conical bottom and a fiatcover an inside cylindrical tank, open at the top, also having a conicalbottom, and arranged concentric with the outer tank; a cylindrical bell,placed over and outside the cylindrical portion of the inside tank andleaving a short space between its top and the top edge of the tank,andalso leaving a narrow circular space between the tank and the bellsides; a central down-take inlet tube passing through the cover plate ofthe outside tank and also through the bell and discharging into theinner tank, having a funnel-shaped upper part and smaller branched tubesin its lower end; a circular trough around the upper part of the funnel,to receive foam overflowing from said funnel and provided with a slopingbottom and with a discharge tube; a valve controlled nozzle with twopassages, located at the extreme lower end of the conical bottoms, onecommunicating with the bottom of the inner tank and the othercommunicating with the of tank plate;

bottom of the outer tank, to discharge thesolid matter accumulated inthe conical bottom of each tank; an outlet located horizontally insidethe outer tank near the top and provided with a series of openings atthe same level for outlet of the clear liquid, and a valve to controlthe same.

In witness whereof we aflix our signatures.

MANUEL F. GALDO. FRANK J. CASABLANCA.

